Atopic dermatitis - red, itchy, dry skin most common in infants; a result of an exposure to an allergen or an irritant.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - a syndrome (a group of symptoms or signs) that is usually characterized by serious and persistent difficulties, resulting in inattentiveness or distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Birthmark - abnormality of the skin that is present at birth or shortly afterward.

Blister - a raised area on the skin containing fluid. The fluid can be blood or serum, the clear liquid portion of the blood.

Booster seat - a seat to help raise a child in a vehicle so that the vehicle's seat belt fits properly.

Bruise (also called contusion) - a collection of blood due to broken blood vessels underneath the skin usually caused by trauma. A bruise causes discoloration and swelling in the area.

Bulimia nervosa (also known as bulimia) - a disease in which there is uncontrolled episodes of overeating that are usually followed with purging (self-induced vomiting), misuse of laxatives, enemas, or medications that cause increased production of urine, fasting, or excessive exercise to control weight.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - an emergency method of life-saving. Artificial respirations and chest compressions are used to restart the heart and lungs.

Cephalohematoma - an area of bleeding underneath one of the cranial bones that appears as raised lump on the baby's head.

Chemical burns - burns due to strong acids or alkalies coming into contact with the skin and/or eyes.

Chickenpox - a highly viral infectious disease, usually associated with childhood. By adulthood, more than 95 percent of Americans have had chickenpox. The disease is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Transmission occurs from person-to-person by direct contact or through the air.

Child safety seat - special seats for infants and toddlers that are secured in a vehicle with seat belts or special anchors to increase the safety of the child in the event of a crash.

Circumcision - surgical procedure to remove the skin covering the end of the penis, called the foreskin.

Colic - a condition in an otherwise healthy baby characterized by excessive crying.

Congenital - present at birth.

Conjunctivitis - inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye.

Contact dermatitis - itchy rash; a result of an exposure to an allergen or an irritant.

Cystitis - inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by a bacterial infection.

Diarrhea - increase in frequency of stools compared to normal, or looser bowel movements than usual; causes include infections of the digestive system, medications such as antibiotics, malabsorption, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Diphtheria - a serious, infectious disease that produces a toxin (poison) and an inflammation in the membrane lining of the throat, nose, trachea, and other tissues.

E. coli O157:H7 (also called E. coli. or Escherichia coli) - Species of bacteria found in the intestines of man and healthy cattle; often the cause of urinary tract infections, diarrhea in infants, and wound infections.

Electrical burns - burns due to contact with an electrical current.

Encopresis - constipation and intestinal obstruction (blockage) lead to an involuntary leakage of loose stool.

Enuresis - loss of urine, especially at night in bed.

Epilepsy - a condition in which there is a problem with the brain that causes long-term seizures in the child.

Haemophilus influenzae (also called H. influenzae) - Represents a group of bacteria that may cause different types of infections in infants and children. H. influenzae most commonly causes ear, eye, or sinus infections, and pneumonia.

Headache - pain or discomfort in the head or face area. Headaches can be single or recurrent in nature, and localized to one or more areas of the head and face.

Heat exhaustion - a form of heat-related illness that is more severe than heat cramps and results from a loss of water and salt in the body. It occurs in conditions of extreme heat and excessive sweating without adequate fluid and salt replacement. Heat exhaustion occurs when the body is unable to cool itself properly. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke.

Learning disability (LD) - a disorder that affects people's ability to either interpret what they see and hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. These limitations are characterized by difficulty in reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Lice - tiny parasites that can infest the skin; characterized by intense itching.

Locking clip - a special device used when the vehicle's lap/shoulder belts do not lock. A locking clip will help secure a child safety seat tightly into a vehicle.

Mongolian spots - blue or purple-colored splotches on the baby's lower back and buttocks; common in darker-skinned babies.

Moro reflex - movement of arms and legs that occurs when a newborn is startled by a loud sound or movement.

Molding - elongation of the shape of a baby's head due to delivery through the birth canal.

Mumps - an acute and highly contagious viral illness that usually occurs in childhood. Spread by airborne droplets from the upper respiratory tract, the disease usually takes two to three weeks to appear.

Myringotomy - a surgical opening of the eardrum to release pressure on the middle ear.

Pediatrics - the branch of medicine that deals with diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases in children.

Personal flotation device (PFD) - any type of item that keeps a person afloat in water. Only U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs should be used on boats.

Pertussis (also called whooping cough) - mainly affects infants and young children; caused by a bacterium, it is characterized by paroxysms of coughing that end with the characteristic whoop as air is inhaled. Pertussis caused thousands of deaths in the 1930s and 1940s, but with the advent of a vaccine, the rate of death has declined dramatically.

Pneumatic otoscope - an instrument that blows a puff of air into the ear to test eardrum movement.

Poliomyelitis - a highly contagious infectious disease caused by various types of poliovirus. Spread though feces and airborne particles, the poliovirus usually causes no more than a mild illness. However, some of the more serious manifestations of the disease include meningitis, which can lead to extensive paralysis.

Puberty - a sequence of events by which a child becomes a young adult; characterized by secretions of hormones, development of secondary sexual characteristics, reproductive functions, and growth spurts.

Reye syndrome - a potentially fatal disease that causes severe problems with the brain and other organs. Although the exact cause of the disease is not known, there has been an association with giving aspirin to children and developing the disease. It is now advised not to give aspirin to children during illnesses, unless prescribed by your child's physician.

Rhinitis - an inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the nose; often due to allergy to pollen, dust, or other airborne substances; causes sneezing, itching, a runny nose, and nasal congestion.

Rubella (also called German measles) - an acute viral infection that causes a mild illness in children and a slightly more severe illness in adults. The disease is spread person-to-person through airborne particles and takes two to three weeks to incubate.

Tetanus - an acute, sometimes fatal, disease of the central nervous system; caused by the toxin of the tetanus bacterium, which usually enters the body through an open wound. The tetanus bacterium live in soil and manure, but also can be found in the human intestine and other places.

Thermal burns - burns due to external heat sources which raise the temperature of the skin and tissues and cause tissue cell death or charring. Hot metals, scalding liquids, steam, and flames, when coming in contact with the skin, cause thermal burns.

Tourette's syndrome - an abnormal condition characterized by tics and other movements such as eye blinks or facial twitches that cannot be controlled.

Tuberculosis (TB) - an infectious disease that was once a major killer worldwide. The predominant TB organism is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Spread person-to-person in airborne droplets caused by sneezing or coughing, the bacteria usually infects the lungs. However, due to improved nutrition, housing, sanitation, medical care, and the introduction of antibiotics this century, reported TB cases in the U.S. have declined dramatically.

Tympanometry - a test that allows for air and sound to be directed into the middle ear.